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United States Patent O 3,522,947 GOLF GREEN Robert I. Anderson, Spring Lake, and Jack A. Russell and Bradford J. Baldwin, Muskegon, Mich., assignors to Brunswick Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 5, 1966, Ser. No. 584,396 Int. Cl. A63b 67/02, 69/36 U.S. Cl. 273-176 15 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A contourable golf green including a pair of spaced beams, each comprised of a pair of pivotally interconnected beam sections, a rigid but distortable platform supported by said beams, springs yieldably securing the platform to the beam sections, a plurality of jacks, at least one for each beam, for moving the same to thereby cause the platform to be distorted, the jacks being independently operable, and control means for the jacks.

In the last few years, many proposals have been made for indoor golf games wherein a golfer may take a full swing at a free flying ball and play a simulated golf course from tee to green through a plurality of holes. Some such games have been sufficiently practical such that they have actually been commercialized. Of course, the commercial success of such an indoor golf game depends almost entirely upon the degree of realism provided. That is to say, an indoor golf game that utilizes equipment that closely simulates the conditions on an outdoor golf course will enjoy a greater degree of success than a game that does not provide a realistic simulation. Of the indoor golf games known to be commercialized, one very detracting factor from the realism provided thereby lies in the inability to provide a suitable green surface that closely simulates the green on a natural course.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the invention to provide a new and improved golf green that is particularly well suited for use in indoor golf games.

More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide a new and improved golf green that very closely simulates an outdoor golf game and is particularly Well suited for use in extremely large rooms whereby the size of an outdoor golf green is relatively closely approximated.

Another object is the provision of a green such as that mentioned in the preceding paragraph that is of a husky construction such that it may readily support a plurality of golfers and being comprised of a putting surface supported by two or more rigid beams, each beam being formed of two or more beam sections that are pivotally interconnected, a first cross beam for supporting the beams at a point adjacent the flexible connection between the beam sections and a second cross beam for supporting the beams adjacent one end thereof, a plurality of means movably interconnecting the cross beams and the beams so as to permit relative movement therebetween about two differing axes, and a plurality of jacks, each jack being associated with an end of the cross beams for raising or lowering the same such that the contour of the putting surface may be readily changed.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a green that may be selectively contoured including a distortable platform having an upper supporting surface formed of a rigid but distortable sheet of material, a snpporting means for the sheet, and a means resiliently securing the platform to the supporting means whereby the distortable platform will not strictly conform to the ice support means to effectively preclude the occurrence of unnaturally rapid changes in contour.

Still another object is the provision of a green such as that mentioned in the preceding paragraph wherein the platform is comprised of a plurality of spaced cross members on which the sheet is mounted and a plurality of stringers interconnecting the cross members are provided.

A further object of the invention is a green such as that set forth above wherein the green is supported on the floor of a room having walls and in an elevated position 'with respect to the floor, and bunker means are provided below and adjacent the green and Within the room and include a surface simulating the lie in a sand trap whereby a golfer may play simulated sand shots onto a green in an indoor environment.

A still further object is the provision in a green such as that mentioned above of a fringe surface surrounding the putting surface, a chipping surface located on the fringe surface and a hump interposed between the putting surface and the chipping surface so that a ball placed on the fringe surface must be chipped onto the green rather than putted in order to realistically simulate chip shots onto an artificial green.

Another object is the provision of a contourable green including a platform that may be selectively contoured, the platform being located in a room having side walls with the sides of the platform being spaced from the walls a distance less than the diameter of a golf ball, means for moving the platform to selectively distort the same, and a stabilizing means connected to the platform that effectively precludes side to side movement thereof so that the platform will not sway when walked upon by one or more golfers, the stabilizing means further precluding contact between the platfonn and the walls so that a golf ball cannot slip below the platform between the sides thereof and the wall of the room.

Yet another object is the provision of a green such as that mentioned above further including a control means for controlling the distortion of the green and including a plurality of switch means, each switch means controlling a plurality of control circuits which are, in turn, utilized to control operation of a corresponding moving means for distorting the green, the control system further including means responsive to the switch means for operating the moving means in accordance -With the information provided by the switch means.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the following drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a green made according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a condensed vertical section of the green illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section of the green;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of certain of the elements illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of certain of the elements shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged View of certain of the elements shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a control system;

FIG. 8 is an electrical schematic of the control system; and

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of a mechanism used in the control system.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail an embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplication of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

One form of a green made according to the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 and is particularly adaptable for use in extremely large rooms. Because of this factor, the green is ideally suited for indoor golf games in that various hazards normally found around greens on natural golf courses, such as bunkers, may be placed in the room with the green. As seen in FIG. 1, the green includes a contourable portion 300 and a fixed portion 302. A fringe area 304 surrounds both the contourable portion 300 and the fixed portion 302. A cup 306 is provided near the right-hand end of the contourable portion 300 as seen in FIG. l and includes a conventional flag stick 308 bearing a flag 310.

The green surface comprising the portions 300 and 302 may tbe formed of a suitable carpeting overlaying a foam pad, and the fringe area 304 may be similarly formed.

Both the contourable portion 300 and the fixed portion 302 are elevated above a floor 312 of the room in which the green is placed. The room includes a pair of side walls 314 and end walls 316. The fixed portion 302 is mounted on a suitable platform, generally designated 318. If desired, a portion of the platform 318 adjacent the leftmost end wall 316 as shown in FIG. 1 may be removed to provide a bunker, generally designated 320. Disposed in the bunker 320 may be a suitable mat 321 that is formed to simulate the turf conditions in a sand trap. The mat 321 may be formed of a solid backing mounting bristles several inches in length that are angled at about 45 in a direction away from the cup 306. Thus, a golfer can be faced with a simulated explosion shot from a trap onto the green. The fixed portion 302 may also mount a chipping surface 322 which may be formed in any conventional manner for chip shots onto the green. An elongated somewhat elevated rise or hump 323 is interposed Ibetween the chipping surface 322 and the green to interface with the rolling shots from the chipping surface 322. Thus a golfer must actually chip the ball onto the green rather than, say, merely putt the ball onto the green.

Turning now to FIG. 2, the supporting structure of the contourable portion 300 may be seen. As mentioned previously, the green surface in the fringe area may be simulated by suitable carpeting placed on a foam pad (not shown in FIG. 2). The foam pad is supported by sheets 324 of material that are sufficiently rigid so as to support one or more golfers and yet suficiently flexible such that they may be distorted to achieve any desired contoured configuration. It has been found that threequarter inch plywood is a suitable material for the sheets 324. The sheets 324 are, in tum, secured as by nails or screws (not shown) to relatively rigid cross members 326 which may be formed of 2 x 4s. Generally, the cross members 326 are spaced and are grouped in pairs although at the joints between the sheets 324, a greater number of cross members 326 may be grouped. Stringers 328 running transverse to the direction of the cross members 326, which may also be formed of 2 x 4s, are interposed between adjacent groups of the cross members 326 and liexibly interconnect the latter.

The cross members 326 are, in turn, supported on spacers 330 which rest on the upper surface of flexible beams generally designated 332. In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, there are three such exible beams 332 that run generally parallel to the side walls 314 and are spaced with respect to each other as may be seen in FIG. 3.

Returning to FIG. 2, each flexible beam 332 is formed of a pair of rigid I-beam sections 334 and 336. One end of the Ibeam 334 is connected to a shaft 338, which, in turn, is received in a bearing 340 mounted on a frame generally designated 342 that is xed to the floor 312 of the room. The frame 342 is placed adjacent the platform 318 that sup-ports the ixed portion 302 of the green. The other end of each Lbeam 334 is pivotally connected to one end of a respective beam 336 and the opposite end of the latter is mounted for generally free movement relative to the right-most end wall 316.

The construction of the pivotal connections joining each of the sets of I-beams 334 and 336 is identical and may be seen in FIG. 4 to comprise a collar 340 mounted on the leftmost end of the I-beam 336. The collar 340 includes spaced, leftwardly extending legs 342 having a shaft 344 mounted therein. A second collar 346 is mounted on the right-most end of the I-beam 334 and has an upper projection 348 which also receives the shaft 344. Thus. the two I-beam sections 334 and 336 are pivotally connected at their adjacent ends to form the flexible beam 332.

Returning now to FIGS. 2 and 3, a pair of cross beams 350 and 352 support the three flexible beams 332. The cross beam 350 is mounted directly beneath the pivotal axis provided by the shaft 344 and supports each of the beams 334 while the cross beam 352 is disposed below and to the left of the righthand end of the beams 336. The ends of each of the cross beams 350 and 352 have collars 354 mounted thereon and each collar 354 includes a pair of spaced legs 356 that form a yoke-like structure. The upper ends of each of the legs '356 of a pair associated with a particular cross beam end include an aperture 358 (see FIG. 5) in which a pivot pin 360 is received. The pivot pin 360 pivotally interconnects the collar 354 and thus the cross beam 350I to the upper end of the extensible member 362 of an electrically operated jack 36S. The jack mechanism is of conventional construction and includes a bi-directional motor 364 for driving the extensible member 362 up or down. The lower end of the jack 365 is connected to the floor 312 of the room by means of a pivot pin 366 which provides a pivotal axis transverse to the pivotal axis provided by the pivot pin 360. Thus, by operation of the motor 364 in one direction, the end of the cross beam 350 with which the motor 364 is associated may be driven in an upward direction while if the motor is run in the opposite direc tion, the end of the cross beam 350 will be lowered.

The arrangement of the jacks 365 with respect to the ends of the cross beam 352 is identical to that just described, and of course, similar movement of the beam 352 may be obtained by suitable operation of the motor 364 associated with the jacks 365 for that beam.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the connection between the beams 334 and the cross beam 350 that transmits movernent of the latter to the former. A connecting member, generally designated 368, includes an yupper yoke 370 and a lower yoke 372 which are arranged transverse to each other. The upper yoke includes apertures 374 in which a pivot pin 376 is placed. The pivot pin 376 extends through suitable apertures (not shown) in the collar 34'6 and the web of the beam 334. Thus, the connecting member 368 is pivotally connected to the beam 334.

The lower yoke 372 includes apertures 378l in which a similar pivot pin 380 is placed. The sides of the collar 354 and the web of the cross beam 350' are provided with elongated slots 382 which have dimensions somewhat greater than the diameter of the pivot pin 380. As best seen in FIG. 4, a pair of flanged guide rollers 384 journalled on the pivot pin 380 are received within the slots 382. The resulting connection permits pivotal movement of the beam 350 with respect to the connecting member 368 and additionally permits some longitudinal movement of the beam 350 with respect to the connecting member 368.

Since the pivotal axes provided by the pins 376 and 380 are transverse to each other, it will be apparent that what may be generally termed a universal pivotal connection, although it is not such in a strict sense, exists between the cross beam 350 and each of the beams 334.

Thus, movement of the cross beam 350 from a horizontal position will not create a rotationally acting force on the beams 334. On the other hand, a lifting force applied to the cross beam 350 will be transmitted to the beams 334 while a lowering force applied to the cross beam 350 will also be similarly transmitted.

Turning now to FIG. 6, the connection between the cross beam 352 and the beams 336 is illustrated. A connecting member, generally designated 384, is in all respects similar to the connecting member 368. That is, it includes an upper yoke 386 and a lower yoke 388 which correspond to the upper and lower yokes 370 and 372, respectively. The connection between the lower yoke 388 and the beam 352 is identical to that described in conjunction with the lower yoke 372 and the beam 350` and need not be further described. However, the connection between the upper yoke 386 and the beam 336 differs from the connection between the upper yoke 370 and the beam 334 in that elongated slots i388 are placed in the web of the beam 336 and in a collar 390 secured thereto. The upper yoke 386 also mounts a pivot pin 392 which, in turn, mounts a pair of Iflanged rollers 394, only one of which is shown. The rollers 394 are received in the slots 388 in the collar 390 in a manner similar to the arrangement between the slots 382 and the rollers 384 described previously. As a result of the connection just described, movement of the cross beam 352 is transmitted to the beam 336 without creating substantial forces that would tend to rotate any of the beams 336 about their longitudinal axis.

It -will be apparent that since one end of each flexible beam 332 is secured to a fixed pivot point 338 as seen in FIG. 2, projection of the length of the beam 332 in a horizontal plane will -vary depending upon the orientation of the beam 334 with respect to the beam 336. If the beams 336 and 334 are not angled with respect to one another, the length so measured will be at a maximum while if one of the beams fonming each flexible beam 332 is pivoted with respect to the other about the pivot provided by the pin 344, the straight line end to end length of the flexible beam 332 will be decreased. Since the beam 352 will be maintained in a generally fixed relationship with regard to the distance therebetween and the pivot point 338 measured in a horizontal direction by virtue of its connection to the extensible member 362 of a jack 365, it will be apparent that unless provision is made for lmovement of the beam 336 along its longitudinal axis relative to the cross beam 352 as by the aforementioned slot and roller construction, a rotative force tending to rotate the cross beam 352 about its longitudinal axis will be created. This force is eliminated by means of the slot and roller connections described above.

It will also be apparent that rotation of the cross beams 350 or 352 from a horizontal plane by virtue of the action of the jacks will tend to decrease the length of those beams as measured in a horizontal plane. Since the flexible beams 332 are pivoted about a fixed horizontal axis provided by the pin 338, it will be apparent that rotation of the flexible beams 336 about their longitudinal axes would lock the flexible supporting structure due to a binding at the pivot 338; and thus, the connections between the cross beams 350 and 352 and the flexible beams 332 are arranged to permit the changing of the position of the pivot pin 380 with respect to the cross beams 350 and 352 by eliminating the production of such a rotative force.

The platform provided by the sheets 324, the cross members 326 and the stringers 328 is secured to each of the flexible beams 332 in the following manner. With reference to FIGS. 2 and 5, it will be seen that cleats 400 are secured to and depend slightly from each of the cross mem- -bers 326 at points adjacent each of the flexible beams 332. Heavy springs 402 are secured to the cleats 400 and in turn to brackets 404 which are drawn snugly against the underside of the beams 332 by the resiliency of the springs 402. Thus, the platform is resiliently secured to each of the flexible beams 332 for movement therewith. As a CII result of this construction, the platform will tend to follow the movement of the flexible beam 332 and to conform to the shape thereof. However, due to the inherent resistance of the platform to deformation because of the rigidity of the materials of which it is formed and the resilient connection of the platform to the beams, extremely abrupt changes in the contour of the upper surface of the platform which would present a putting surface very unlike anything found on a natural golf green, are precluded from existing even though such abrupt changes in contour will be present at the upper surface of the flexible beam 332 at the point where the beams 334 and 336 are joined. As a result, the upper surface of the platform will have what may be termed rolling contour that closely simulates that found on a natural green.

Since the putting surface provided by the green is contourable, it will be apparent that the movable edges of the platfrom cannot have a fixed connection to the walls of the room. Furthermore, it is desirable that the movable edges of the green do not contact the walls of the room at any time during the operation of the green in that contact could result in the marring of the decor of the room. On the other hand, it is desirable that the movable edges of the gre'en be only a small distance from the wall for all possible contours of the green such that a golf ball cannot slip between the movable edges and the wall of the room to fall beneath the putting surface. Thus, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the movable edges 410 of the platform are spaced a distance less than the diameter of a golf ball from the adjacent side and end walls 314 and 316, respectively.

Because one end of the flexible beams 332 is fixed as at the pivot pin 338, and the beams 332 are of sufficient physical size so as not to be elongated by the virtue of the Weight of golfers standing on the platform, no great problem exists with providing clearance between the movable edge 410 adjacent the end wall 316. However, because of the pivotal connections betwen the various supporting structure, as well as the direction in which the various beams run, it will be appreciated that a significant amount of side-to-side sway of the platform could occur in response to one or more golfers walking on the putting surface and could cause the edges 410 of the platform abutting the side walls 314 to come in contact with the latter. Accordingly, means are provided for preventing such side-to-side movement.

A stabilizer, generally designated 412, is interconnected between the floor 312 and the center of each of the beams 350 and 352. Each stabilizer 412 comprises a bracket 414 which is suitably secured to the floor 312 and includes a pivot pin 416. The pivotal axis of the pivot pin 416 is transverse to the length of the flexible beams 332. The lower end of a rigid tube 418 is pivotally mounted on the pin 416 and it will be apparent that the arrangement is such as to limit movement of the tube 418 to a path in a wholly vertical plane parallel to the length of the green.

The upper end of the tube 418 telesopically receives a rigid rod or pipe 420 which, in turn, has its upper end pivotally connected at 422 (see FIG. 2) to a bracket 424. The bracket 424 includes a pair of upstanding ears 426 which are pivoted at 428 to the lower yoke of either of the connecting members 368 or 384 depending upon Iwhether the stabilizer 418 is associated with the beam 350 or the beam 352, respectively. The axes provided by the pivots 422 and 428 are transverse to each other, and a universal connection is established.

As a result, the center of the cross beams 350 or 352 may be raised or lowered or the cross beams 350 or 352 may be rotated about their centers while maintaining a fixed connection to the upper end of the rod 420 of the stabilizer 412. Since the stabilizer rod 420 is received within the tube 418, and the latter may only move in a vertical plane, it will be apparent that the rod 420 cannot shift to either side of the plane. As the rod 420 is connected to the eener of a respective one of the cross beams 350 or 352, it will be apparent that the respective cross beam cannot shift from side to side but may only rotate about its center point or have its center point elevated or lowered. Thus, the center of each of the beams 350 and 352 remain fixed with respect to the side walls 314 and the center of the platform is similarly maintained so as to preclude swaying of the latter.

A block diagram of the control system for operating the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-6 is illustrated in FIG. 7. The control system includes a manually operable programming device 440 which, for any desired green contour, simultaneously provides position information for each of the jacks 365. The system is basically a servo system and the information from the manual programmer 440 is provided to position control resistor matrices 442. The information from each of the matrices 442 is then fed to a corresponding oit-on and direction control unit 444 which controls the energization and direction of rotation of the jack motor 364 to thereby control the direction of the movement of the extensible members 362 of the particular jack 365. A position feedback unit 446 is associated with each of the jacks 365 and also provides information of the olf-on and direction control unit 444 for the jack 365 with which it is associated. The information from a corresponding one of the matrices 442 and the position feedback unit 446 is compared in a bridge unit that forms part of the off-on and direction control unit 444 and enables the latter to control the direction of movement of the jack 365 and causes the jack 365 to be deenergized when the progammed position has been attained.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a simplified schematic illustrating the components of the various blocks shown in FIG. 7 will be seen. The manual programmer 440 cornprises eighteen manually operable push button type switches 450 (one for each of eighteen golf holes) only seven of which are' shown. Each of the switches 450 includes four sets of contacts 452, 454, 456 and 458, there being o ne contact on each switch for each one of the four jacks 365. Specically, the contacts 452 and 454 are associated with the two jacks that are connected to the cross beam 350 while the contacts 456 and 458 are associated with the two jacks connected to the cross beam 352.

One side of each of the contacts 452-458, inclusive, is associated with the corresponding resistor matrices 460, 462, 464 and 466. Each of the resistor matrices 460- 466 comprise six resistors of equal value that are connected in series. The opposite ends of the string of the resistors comprising each matrix are connected to a source of DC power 468 to form one-half of a DC bridge circuit. The connections between the matrices 460-466 to 'the respective ones of the contacts 452-458 are taken from various junctions between the resistors comprising each matrix in the manner illustrated in FIG. 8, and it will be apparent that the particular junction taken will not be the same for each one of the eighteen push buttons 450 although there may be some duplication.

The other side of each of the contacts of each of the eighteen push buttons 450 is connected in common to one side of the coil 470 of a micropositioner. As seen in FIG. 8, only two of the coils of the -micropositioners are shown, one for one of the jacks associated with the beam 350 and the other for one of the jacks associated with the beam 352. At this point, it should be recognized that except for the connections between the resistor matrices 460l and 462 to the contacts 452 and 454 on each of the eighteen push button switches 450, the control circuits for the jacks associated with the cross beam 350 are identical. Similarly, with the same exception, the control systems for the jacks associated with the cross beam 352 are identical. Additionally, the direction control and motor circuitry for each of the four jacks 365 used in the system is identical, and thus, only the direction control and motor for one of the jacks associated with the beam 350 is illustrated.

Returning now to the micropositioner coils 470, the opposite sides of the coils 47() are connected to corresponding microswitch matrices generally designated 472 and 474. Each microswitch matrix includes eight microswitches A-H, inclusive. As will be apparent from FIG. 8, certain of the microswitches comprising the matrix 472 are not used while all of the microswitches in the matrix 474 are used. Each microswitch matrix has various ones of the switches thereof connected to a corresponding resistor matrix generally designated 476. It will be understood that there are four such matrices 476, one for each of the jacks. Each matrix 476 is comprised of six resistors connected in series and each resistor of the matrix has a value equal to the value of each other resistor in the matrix and may be of the same value as each resistor in the matrices 460-466. Opposite ends of the strings of resistors comprising each of the matrices 476 are also connected to the source of DC power 468 to complete the DC bridge system mentioned earlier.

The microswitch matrices 472 and 474 are also connected to the direction control and motor circuitry 478. The direction control and motor circuitry 478 includes a first relay 480 having normally open contacts 480a, 480b, 480e and 480d. A second relay 482 is also provided and includes normally open contacts 482a, 48211, 482e and 482d. The relay 480 has one side connected through the normally open contacts 470e of the micropositioner to a source of power 484 while the relay 482. has a side thereof connected to normally open contacts 4706 of the micropositioner to the same side of the source of power 484. The other side of the relays 4-80- and 482 are connected through the microswitch matrix 472 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 8 to the opposite side of the source of power 484. The motor circuitry is generally designated 486 and includes windings 488, a winding 490 and a centrifugal switch 492.

It will be apparent from FIG. 8 that when either one of the relays 480 or 482 is closed, the windings 488 will be connected across the source of power 484 by virtue of the closing of the contacts 480:1 and 4801i or 482a and 482.11. As will be seen, the relays 480 and 482 cannot be energized simultaneously. It will also be apparent that if the relay 480 is energized, the current flowing through the motor winding 490 will be shifted 186 from the phase that would be present if the relay 482 were energized instead. As a result of this arrangement, and as is well known in the art of alternating current motors, it will be apparent that when the relay 480 is energized, the motor will run in one direction while if the relay 482 is energized, the motor will run in the opposite direction. Accordingly, whether the extensible member 362 of the jack moves upwardly or downwardly is dependent upon which of the relays 480 or 482 is energized.

Turning now to FIG. 9, the mechanical and geometric arrangement of the microswitch matrices 472 and 474 is shown. It will be appreciated that FIG. 9 does not show the electrical arrangement, which is shown in FIG. 8. Each of the micorswitches A-H are mounted in the respective positions illustrated in FIG. 9 on a plate 500. The plate 500 is in turn secured to a xed portion of the jack 365 with which it is to be associated by any suitable means not shown. In the center of the plate 500, there is tixedly mounted a shaft 502 which journals a circular disc 504. The shaft 502 includes an inner slot 506 which receives one end 508 of a coil spring 510. The other end 512 of the coil spring 510 is secured to the disc 504 to bias the latter in a counterclockwise direction.

The disc 504 has a groove (not shown) in its periphery in which is received a cable 514. One end of the cable 514 is secured to the disc 504 while the other end passes through a guide 516 mounted on the plate 500 and is secured to the cross beam structure as schematically indicated in FIG. 3. Thus, it will be apparent that when a jack 365 is extended, the corresponding disc 504 will be rotated clockwise against the bias spring 510 while when the jack 365 is retracted, the disc 504 will rotate counterclockwise due to the bias of the spring 510'.

Overlapping a portion of the periphery of the disc 504 is a cam surface 518 which is adapted to engage the actuators 520 of the microswitches A-H at various points during the revolution of the disc 504. It will be apparent that depending upon the degree of rotation of the disc 504 which is directly related to the extent of the corresponding jack, a certain one or ones of the microswitches A-H will be actuated. As will be seen hereinafter, certain of the microswitches A-H when actuated vary the resistance ratios of the DC bridge circuit.

A stop 522 is mounted on the plate 500 in a position where it may engage a portion of the cam 518 to limit rotational movement of the disc 504.

Returning now to FIG. 8, it will be apparent that the microswitches A, B and D of the matrix 472, when closed due to actuation of the microswitch by the cam 518 is described above, provide diering tapping points for the connection of the micropositioner coil 470 to the resistor matrix 476. Similarly, differing ones of the push button switches 450 provide through their contacts 452 differing tapping points to the resistor matrix 460. When a tapping point into the resistor matrix 460 is chosen by operation of one of the push button switches 450 and this tapping point does not correspond to the tapping point connected to the micropositioner coil 470 via the microswitches A, B and D of the matrix 472, it will be apparent that an electrical imbalance is created in the bridge circuit and current will flow through the micropositioner coil 470. Depending upon the direction of current flow through the coil 470, either the contact 470a or the contact 470b thereof will be closed. That is to say, when the imbalance in the bridge causes current flow in the micropositioner coil 470 in one direction, one of the contacts 470e and 470b will be closed while the other will remain open. However, when the imbalance is in the opposite direction and current ows through the micropositioner coil 470 in the opposite direction, the other one of the contacts 470:1 and 470b will be closed.

It will be recalled that the direction in which the jack motor 364 is driven is dependent upon which of the relays 480 and 482 is energized which, in turn, depends upon which of the contacts 470a and 470b of the micropositioner 470 is closed. If it is assumed that one of the push button switches 450 has 'been manipulated to create an imbalance in the bridge, it will be apparent that one of the relays 480 or 482 will ultimately be energized to energize the jack motor to change the contour of the green. As the contour is changed, the cam 518 and the disc 504 (FIG. 9) will change its position and sequentially actuate one or more of the microswitches A-H. This latter action will cause a changing of the tapping point of the resistor matrix 476 until one of the microswitches A, B and D of the matrix 472 is closed to connect a tapping point in the matrix 476 to the coil 470 that corresponds to the tapping point of the matrix 460 chosen by actuation of one of the switches 450. When such is the case, current will cease to iiow through the micropositioner coil 470, and as a result, it will be deenergized and the contacts thereof will revert to their normally open condition thereby deenergizing the jack motor 364. This action will occur in the control circuitry for each of the four jacks required. Since the manipulation of one of the push button switches 450 simultaneously closes each of the four control circuits by simultaneously closing the contacts 452, 454, 456 and 458, it will be apparent that each of the jacks 365 is programmed simultaneously, and if the jack extension does not already correspond to that programmed into it by the manual programmer 440, each of the jacks will simultaneously respond to the programming condition. As each jack reaches its programmed extent, it will be deenergized in the manner just stated, and thus it will be apparent that each of the four jacks operate independently and will not necessarily be deenergized simultaneously. It will also be appreciated that the nature of the electrical jacks is such as to have a great deal of friction in the drive between the motor 364 and the extensible member 362 such that once the jack is deenergized, the jack will be essentially locked in the programmed condition in spite of the weight of the green structure and golfers standing thereon.

As mentioned previously, the circuitry involved in the switch matrix 474 differs from that used in the switch matrix 472. However, it will be apparent that the switch matrix 474 functions similarly to the switch matrix 472 differing primarily only in the number of programming conditions obtainable.

An examination of FIG. 8 will also indicate that in the case of the switch matrix 472, the microswitches C, E and G solely provide a safety function for deenergizing the jack motor 364 completely or limiting it to rotation in a certain direction. In the case of the microswitch matrix 474, the microswitches F, G and H provide similar functions. As will be apparent, if jack movement goes beyond any desired extent as determined by the positions of the microswitches involved in the safety circuit, due to a malfunction of one sort or another, depending on which switches are actuated by such overtravel, the jack motor may be only energized to turn in a direction to produce travel in a direction opposite from that in which the overtravel occurred or may 'be deenergized completely to prevent damage to the equipment.

We claim:

1. A contourable green for use in a golf game comprising: a flexible putting surface including a cup therein for reception of a golf ball; means providing a support for said surface that is sufficiently rigid to support at least one golfer and suiciently flexible so as to be distortable whereby the contour of said putting surface may be changed; a plurality of powered means spaced from one another and connected to said support means for moving said support means, each of said plurality of moving means being operable independently of the other of said moving means whereby different ones of said moving means may be operated to cause differing movement of diffreing points of said support means to cause distortion of the latter; and control means for said pluralty of moving means comprising a plurality of switch means and a plurality of control circuits, there being one of said control circuits for each of said moving means, each said switch means providing control over said plurality of control circuits, and means including said plurality of circuits responsive to said switch means for operating each of said plurality of moving means in accordance with the information provided by said control means.

2. 'Ilie invention of claim 1 wherein each said control circuit comprises an electrical 'bridge and each said switch means includes a plurality of switches, one for each bridge, for connecting into the corresponding bridge at predetermined electrical points thereon to provide electrical control signals, at least some of said points differing from others of said points.

3. A contourable green comprising: at least two beams spaced from each other, each said beam comprising at least two elongated rigid beam sections ilexibly connected to each other; means providing a platform of sufficient rigidity to support a golfer and being somewhat ilexible such that its shape may be distorted to provide a desired contour, said platform providing means being supported on said beams to be movable therewith; means on said platform providing a putting surface, a cup associated with said putting surface for receiving a golf ball propelled thereacross; at least one powered mechanism associated with each of said beams for moving the respective beam to cause movement of said platform providing means, each said mechanism being operable independently of the other whereby said beams may be moved different amounts to cause distortion of said platform providing means whereby said putting surface may be contoured; and control means for operating said mechanisms.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said beam sections of each of said beams are pivotally connected to each other, and spring means resiliently and yieldably securing said platform to said beams.

5. The invention of claim 3 wherein said platform comprises a rigid but distortable sheet, a plurality of spaced cross members arranged transversely to said beams, and stringers interconnecting adjacent ones of said cross members.

l6. The invention of claim 3 further including at least one rigid cross beam arranged transversely to said beams; and means connecting said cross beam to said beams to permit relative movement therebetween about two diifering axes.

7. An indoor golf game including a contourable green comprising: a room having side and end walls; means providing a platform of suiiicient rigidity to support at least one golfer and of sufficient iiexibility such that it may be distorted to simulate undulations in a green, the sides of said platform being spaced from said walls a distance less than the diameter of a golf ball; means providing a putting surface on said platform; a plurality of means for moving said platform different amounts to distort the latter; and stabilizing means for said platform including first means secured to said platform for move- .ment therewith and second means stationarily secured Within said room for engaging said first means for permitting up and down movement of said rst means while effectively precluding side to side movement of said first means to prevent swaying movement of said platform when it is supporting a golfer thereby precluding contact between said platform and said walls and maintaining .the spacing between said walls and said platform to preclude a golf ball from slipping therebetween.

8. The invention of claim 7 rwherein said room includes a floor and said iirst and second means comprise a rigid rod received within a rigid tube, one of said rod and tube being pivotally secured to said floor about an axis transverse to said side walls and the other of said rod and tube being universally pivotally secured to said platform.

9. A contourable green for use in a golf game and capable of supporting a plurality of golfers comprising: a distortable platform comprising a rigid but distortable sheet of material having an upper putting surface, ball receiving means associated with said putting surface, supporting means for said sheet comprising at least two, elongated, rigid, pivotally interconnected beam sections, and spring means yieldably securing said platform to said supporting means.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein said sheet is formed of a wood-like material.

11. The invention of claim 9 wherein said platform further comprises a plurality of spaced cross members mounting said sheet, and a plurality of stringers interconnecting said cross members.

12. The invention of claim 9 wherein said green is supported on the floor of a room having walls and in an elevated position with respect to said floor; and bunker means below and adjacent said green Within said room providing a surface simulating the lie in a sand trap `whereby a golfer may play simulated sand shots onto said green.

13. The green of claim 9 wherein said putting surface is at least partially surrounded by a fringe surface; means on said fringe surface for providing a chipping surface; and a hump interposed between said putting surface and said chipping surface.

14. A contourable golf green comprising: means providing a putting surface; a stationary support for a portion of said putting surface; a distortable support for the remainder of said putting surface and comprising a sheet mounted on a plurality of cross members; at least two beams supporting said cross members, each said beam being formed of at least two rigid beam sections pivotally interconnected at their adjacent ends; means pivotally mounting one end of each of said beams adjacent said stationary support; a -iirst cross beam extending between said beams at a point in close proximity to said adjacent ends of said beam sections and supporting said beams; a second cross beam extending between said beams adjacent the end thereof opposite said one end and supporting said beams; means movably interconnecting said cross beams and said beams to permit relative movement therebetween in two directions; and a plurality of jack means, each operatively associated with an end of said cross beams for raising and lowering the same.

15. A contourable green for use in a golf game and capable of supporting a plurality of golfers comprising: a distortable platform comprising a rigid 4but distortable sheet of material having an upper putting surface, ball receiving means associated with said putting surface, supporting means for said sheet, and means resiliently securing said platform to said supporting means, said supporting means comprising at least two, spaced, elongated beams; and means for moving each of said beams differing distances.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,572,069 2/1926 Kline 273-109 X 1,5 03,7 20- 8/ 1924 Strasser. 2,3 34,540* ll/l943 Buffham. 2,678,823 5/1954 Hugman. 3,025,059 3/ 1962 Buono. 3,366,388 1/1968 Del Raso.

GEORGE J. MARLO, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 273-195 

